Challenge check in

Week One:   down 7 pounds -  walked/jogged – 19.743 miles

Nothing like a friendly competition to help the motivation!

What to do

I’ve been hitting the treadmill hard these past few days.  Well I should clarify, hard for me.  I walked to it this morning and my muscles did what the dog does when I want him to walk on the treadmill (go stiff and refuse to get any closer).  So, I didn’t and I probably won’t tonight, just so my legs can rest.  I know I’m going to regret it, especially since we stopped at Taco Bell on the way home tonight.  One of my many weeknesses … well, maybe I will end up jog/walking for just a little bit anyway.

One of our customers committed suicide the other night.  Not something that is a pleasant thing to talk about, but it’s a wierd thing.  On one hand I can understand why, since he was really ill, in alot of pain and waiting for an organ transplant, then was diagnosed with cancer about a month ago.  On the other hand, I’m not sure that suicide is the answer.  Especially doing it at home, in your bed, for your family to find you.  It seems like an extremely selfish thing to do.  I wouldn’t want to have any of my family members to have to walk in on something like that.  It breaks my heart just thinking of it.

Plus the fact that I wouldn’t take my life, since it isn’t mine to take.  The consequences (physical and spiritual) are too great.   But his family are in my prayers for comfort and some kind of peace.  I just hope the little grandchildren weren’t anywhere near.

I watched the last half of MJ’s memorial service.  I was glad I caught Usher’s performance and was touched by his emotions.  I wasn’t quite sure why that senator was there taking up the air time and ending with giving a plaque for MJ.  I know she had a point to all the blah blah blahing she did, but I thought it strange to end her speech that way.  Maybe if I listened to her speech it would have made sense, but all I heard was Charlie Brown’s teacher … “Waah waah waah waah waah”  I thought the rest was really nice and I loved Smokey Robinson’s speech … unfortunately, I missed the first half with Brooke, Stevie Wonder, Queen Latifah and all … I guess I’ll have to watch it online somewhere.

So, do I have any packing done?  N O , NADDA, NOT A DANG THING … lol … I’m having probs getting my head wrapped around it.  We do have some boxes packed, however, they were already packed and sitting here.  We’ve been going through them to see if we can consolidate any … but, that’s not going too well either.  I have to call the office supply place we use for work and ask if they’ll save some boxes for me.   Tomorrow the estimator for the moving company comes over.  I’m hoping it will be doable.  There is no way we can do this ourselves … again. 

A friend of a friend, got  us a room at a local casino.  So to show my appreciation, I was going to make him something.  I found out today that he loves filipino food … so … I’m thinking Lupia or Adobo or both … lol … we’ll see how much energy I have after work tomorrow.   Meat Lumpia isn’t hard, it’s just the wrapping that takes forever.  And Adobo, pretty much cooks itself … so … what am I really saying ??   LOL  I wonder if there’s a local filipino restaurant nearby …  I may end up picking something up from there … we will see.

Well, I guess I had better go and attempt to do something constructive.  Y’all have a great humday evening.

Another Monday

So I’ve walked 4.5 treadmill miles yesterday.  Tonight I walked a hair over 2 … tomorrow I’ll have to do the 4.5 or 5 miles.   We’ll see. 

Today the office was busy.  Not as busy as a normal summer day, however, busier than it has been in quite awhile.  We aren’t sure if it will continue or if this is just 4th of July fallout.  But, I was asked to work Thursday, so I get four days this week,  I’m not complaining.  Especially since I’ll need all the money I can to move into the new house.

Friday we are going to Reno.  Our oldest daughter and her family will be driving through and are stopping at one of the casinos … so we’ve booked a room and will board the dog for the night.  It will be a nice break and from what I understand the rooms have been renevated, so it will feel like  a mini vacation.  Then it is back to packing.    I’ve got a mover coming over on Thursday to give us an estimate.  I don’t think we can move ourselves.  With hubby’s back and shoulder, we won’t be able to move this stuff.  I’m hoping the bid won’t be too expensive.  Everything will be packed, they just need to move it from one house to the other.  BUT, we’ll see.  If it’s way out of budget, I’ll have to find an alternative … sigh!

I still haven’t worked on changing utilities or anything, I think I’m waiting to find out when and if the movers can do the move.  It would be nice if they were real reasonable … but I’m not getting my hopes up.

We finished off the last of the cake tonight.  I’ve only had a sliver of cake each day and a very small scoop of ice cream.  But it has really helped keep my overboard cravings at bay.  Now that we are out, I’m hoping they will continue to stay away.   Hopefully with jog/walking everyday, it will curb them.

Last night I didn’t sleep very long.  I went to bed early, then I woke up around midnight only to toss and turn until 2:30am.  So I’m a bit out of sorts.  I’m glad we have extra strong coffee at work. 

I was trying to write everyday in July, but I’ve already missed a day.  Oh well, it isn’t the end of the world.

Well, I may take another go on the treadmill … not for very long, just a stroll to help walk off dessert.

Y’all have a great week.

I didn’t go

I was supposed to help serve the pancake breakfasts at the lake.  Well, after yesterdays outing in the sun … I was done with the sun for the weekend.  I’ve started taking my other diabetes medicine because it works differently from the one I was only using.  There are two  bad things about this med though, one  - I need to be covered up when in direct sunlight; two – my muscles cramp … something I’m gonna have to ask the doc about. 

The reason why I started taking this med again, is that it works 3 ways.  The one I remained taking makes the pancreas release more insulin … which is wierd because the pancreas only has so much insulin … once it’s done … it’s done.  Plus the fact that Type II means my body is insulin resistant, so why do I want to dump more insulin in my body when my cells are not accepting it?  Way confusing and frustrating is this disease and meds.   Anyway, we’ll see how this goes for the month. 

Now that I have my weight challenge … I’m working on getting active.  Especially since we have the move at the end of the month, it’s probably a good thing to get the body going. 

I’m putting it out here in blog land … hopefully it will keep me accountable to lose the weight and get my sugars in a normal level.

Y’all stay safe out there … I know it’s a day for celebration … but don’t get too carried away.

It is Friday, not Saturday

Hubby and I have thought today was Saturday, not Friday.  A good thing, since we are pleasantly surprised there is still 2 more days until Monday.  We were up and ready to go at 9am.  Our friends were coming over to pick up the table, chairs and total gym.  So we loaded both of our trucks and headed to their house.  I’m so glad they will be able to use these things.  So much better than sitting and collecting dust in our house.

After, hubby and I decided to pick up the dog and go on a walk about in the valley desert.  It has been awhile since we’ve wandered in the desert on a hot day.  We forgot how hot the dirt gets.  Dog was not thrilled as he kept going for the shade.

If looks could kill!!  I’m glad he can’t talk, I’m sure he’d be telling us a thing or two about how dang hot it is down there.

So we wandered a little further and this is where he went.

After the third time of him running to the next tree shade, we finally got it.  LOL … this is what happened next.

Yup, hubby had to carry the dog back to the car.  He wasn’t budging from the shade.  Now, this dog does not like to be picked up.  Usually his legs are held out straight and his body goes stiff.  But, this time he just cuddled into hubby’s arms until we got to the truck.  I, of course, was laughing my butt off.  It was too funny. Then hubby starts apologizing to the dog, because we forgot how hot the dirt gets in the desert.  Granted it’s not the lower desert, but it’s still 93 degrees outside.

Feeling bad, we decided to walk along the Carson River in Markleeville.  The dog was happy when he was walking in the mud and water.

GH, here’s some river pictures for you …

Now we are home and pretty much wiped out.  Pizza and salad for dinner, then I think it’s an early bed time.

I hope you all have a great Independence Day.  Enjoy yourselves and be safe!

25 lbs by Christmas

Well, I’ve entered into another challenge.  This time it isn’t with my daughter but a friend of my hubby’s.  He’s been told by his doc to lose 25 lbs by Christmas and we all know I need to lose pounds period!  Loser has to buy the other couple dinner in Vegas.  LOL … this will be interesting.  If you all see me sliding, just smack me up side my head and keep me focused.  HD, thanks for your FB comments, it helps!  Keep them coming!  I didn’t have cake for breakfast, but I did have some tonight … I may have to wait until all the cake and ice cream is gone.  At the rate I’m going, it will be after the weekend.

I’m so glad today is over.  It was busy in the morning, but the afternoon it was dead, which can sometimes be worst than being busy.  By the time I drove home I was whipped.  So … we didn’t go to class and next week is the last one, so I’m thinking we won’t be going to that either, since we’ve missed so much. 

Hubby told me that our son’s Marine Unit has been deployed to Afghanistan as of May, 2009.  The only one in the unit that my son knows is the Commander.  Is it selfish of me to be so thankful that my son has been fully discharged?  I’ve gotten better at the survivor’s guilt … I would feel extremely guilty when a mom loses her son/daughter.   I know my son has done his time and because of family circumstances, he did his time and got out.  I was proud of him when he was an active Marine and I’m proud of him as an active Graphic Designer.  Thank you God for bringing him home so many years ago, safe and alive. 

My hats off to all those serving in the armed forces here and over seas and I want to say Thank You for continuing to give us the freedom we, here in the United States, have enjoyed for so long.  I wish the media would show more of the good that is happening instead of the bad and horrid.  I think we the public could handle it.

Lost in the maze of my mind

Sometimes I feel like this.  So many corridors in my brain that I find myself wandering around looking for the right door.  I could camp out in the different sections of my brain and get lost in the thought or quickly pass a section so I don’t have to relive it. 

Are there things in your brain that you don’t want to relive?  I can only remember snippits of my life that I wouldn’t want to go back to.  Then there are parts of my life I would love to remember, and they elude me. 

I feel like a leafless tree with many branches standing with the fog floating heavily around me. 

Then again, I could just be plain tired as it is now 11pm and I’m sitting here typing and not lying in bed trying to sleep. 

I hate when I can feel the insomnia starting.  I’m hoping it doesn’t, but with the upcoming move, I get all crazed with anticipation, especially since I haven’t even started to do the necessary preliminary stuff to move (utitilies, post office, etc.)  

Well, I guess I will try again to close these eyes and see if Mr. Sandman will bring me a nice dream and not a nightmare.

Etc. Etc. Etc.

I’ve done it again … I hate giving into cravings.  Dinner tonight was BBQ ribs, loaded potato salad, sourdough bread, followed by Chocolate cake with wonderful chocolate buttercreme frosting.  As I sit here, I am regretting my lack of will power.  It tasted so wonderful, but I’m feeling like a beached whale. 

I’m stuck between knowing I need to watch my diet because of the problems that come with diabetes and the question of why bother.  No matter what I do, my sugar readings are still high.  So I throw my hands up and give in to what sounds good.    Then I get slapped in the face with the loss of 50 year olds.  I know it’s a wake up call to pay attention and stay on a proper diet, however, I want immediate results.  If I don’t get immediate results, then I have a tendency to give up.   Which is where I am again today, even with the wake up calls of the 50 year olds that have passed on.

I’m almost afraid to read the headlines, Billy Mays and now Fred Travalena are gone.  I remember Fred Travalena when he performed on the strip in Vegas.  So much of the Vegas I grew up with is going with the people and landmarks.  Granted Fred was 66, however, Billy Mays was 50 … MJ was 50 … I don’t even want to know who’s next.

I know I’ve fallen today, but tomorrow is another day, so we’ll see how I do.

On another note, I just flipped to the CMT awards where Taylor Swift is performing with Def Leppard.  I cannot get over how much our oldest grand-daughter looks like Taylor Swift.  LOL … too bad her parents won’t let me be a backstage grandma.  It could be fun!

Gene Simmons Family Jewels is back on A & E.  I LOVE watching this show.  I laugh so much at all the things he gets himself into.  He may be KISS and the guy that has slept with an very large number of women and a tongue that rolls down to his chest … but, considering all that he’s associated with, he is more normal than other rock groups.  If you get a chance, you should watch it on A & E … I always have a good laugh when it’s on.

Tomorrow is hump day … then Saturday in the Park, I think it’s the Fourth of July … lol … 4th of July will actually fall on Saturday and I will be in the park at the lake serving pancake breakfasts for the Lions Club.  Last year I helped with the breakfasts, then I walked across the street to the beach and cooked burgers.  I’m only doing the breakfast this year.  Hubby has to work at the lake from 8am until … who knows.  I may get off the mountain after the breakfast and wander either in Reno or come home and start packing.  Hmmm … wandering or packing … lol … such a hard choice!  Bad thing is it will be way cooler at the lake, however more crowded.  The valley will probably be quite warm.  Who knows what I’ll do … maybe catch a movie … or … dang, why can’t we have something cool here, like the Crown Center in KC?

Seriousely?!?!

Where did the weekend go? 

Well, we’ve found another house to rent and will be moving the last weekend in July.  I’m not looking forward to the packing and moving, but it has to be done.  With both of us working part-time hours, we had to down size the rent.  Unfortunately, with the down size in rent comes the down size of square footage and age of home.  Don’t get me wrong, there are good things to the new house, but there are also so-so things about it.  I’m definately going to like the location and that we will only have a neighbor on one side.  That will be nice.  I can have my TV on loud and make as much noise as I want when we’re having sex, so no one is disturbed.  Seriously, when one wants to let go and scream, and you have to hold back, it feels like your brain is going to explode.  (Did I say that out loud?  Dang, hate it when my fingers type what my mind is thinking BEFORE the filtering process!!)

Anyways …

It isn’t far from this house, however, more in the middle of town, near a park.  I’ve managed to give away our dining room table, chairs and bar stools along with our total gym.  We don’t use the dining room table, so I may put the treadmill in the dining room.  There definately isn’t enough room for the total gym, but they are going to a friend that could use the table/chairs and has been wanting a total gym.

The backyard is fenced for muttly and it reminds me of  a combination of the house we had in Lincoln and our first house in Vegas.   

Anyways ….

I have to laugh.  My most popular post is Saturday in the Park … does that mean I have to write more posts on pain killers??  GH, you are right, I have re-read this post and … I was definately influenced by the pain pills.   LOL … ya think?!?! 

Is it hot where y’all are?  For 5500 foot elevation, it is hot!!  Okay, not as hot as Vegas, Phoenix or the midwest.  I’m very thankful there isn’t as much humidity as the midwest.  But it’s hot, especially when you have no A/C.  Unfortunately, the new house doesn’t have A/C either, however, it does have alot of shade, which keeps the house cooler.  We were looking at the house at 2pm on a hot day and the house was comfortable.    Yay!  This house, gets plain hot and there is no way to get air circulating.  It just sits in the wrong direction.  Oh, but it’s a dry heat … ARGH!!  I truly dislike that saying.  I’m sorry, but when you walk outside and can feel your skin start to blister from the sun, it don’t matter that it’s dry.  You’re still being roasted.

Honest, I haven’t had a pain pill, even though I am all over the place with my thoughts … lol … I guess I haven’t posted in a while and I am having a hard time pinpointing a train of thought … so it’s all spewing out as it pops into my mind.   Y’all know that can be dangerous … there have been several posts that have jumped back and forth, yup, horizontal yo-yo … lol … that’s me … did I mention some of the guys I knew is high school called me “Yo-yo” … I’ve forgotten why that is … Hey Jill, if you are out there, do you remember?  I’ll have to send Bill a note in FB and ask him. 

LOL, I had better sign off before I say something even more embarrasing … hhmmm, feeling feisty … where did hubby go?  (Dang, too late!)

R.I.P.

First of all, my condolences to Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson’s Family and Friends. 

When “Charlie’s Angels” was on the air, what girl didn’t want to be one of them?  How many of us were influenced by Farrah’s hair?  Yes, I am raising my hands to both questions.  I also thought it was cool that she was married to ”The Six Million Dollar Man” and then significant other to Ryan O’Neal.  I am so impressed by her strength to fight the cancer she had.  Not one that I would want anyone to have.  Just the “C” word in itself is a worry, but to actually watch someone deteriorate each day is heart breaking.   I watched that documentary she did just recently about her treatments.  The pain she endured along with the travel to get those treatments shows how strong her faith and fight was to survive.  I pray that her family and friends are comforted and so thankful that she is no longer in pain.  Rest in Peace, Farrah.

I was shocked, along with the rest of the world, to hear of Michael Jackson’s death.  I loved the Jackson 5 and watching Michael when he went out on his own.  His “Thriller” albumn and the videos that came from this albumn were the best, in my opinion.  He was an extremely talented artistic person.  Unfortunately, along with the rest of the celebrity world, an icon that he was, he became different.  So many influences can plague a celebrity along with good and bad press.  But when you think of how many lives, how many generations, how many people around the world have been influenced by him and his talent, it is truly mind blowing!  As I sit here listening to “The Early Show” play his songs, Harry of this show is right, with every song, you remember not just the song, but where you were as well as who you were with at the time the song was out.  I feel for his children and the possible battle that may be brewing for custody.  I hope it won’t … but … that’s the way of this world and well, you know.  I pray for comfort for his family and friends at the loss of their loved one.  I pray that he has found peace and freedom since he is no longer bound by his earth suit.

I know the press is anxious to get out there and get the story of what’s next, the service, the family and all that.  But, I hope they remember that both of these people have family, children and friends that need to mourn without the whole world watching.  They need the privacy to come to terms with their loss.  So if you are a reporter or a tabloid photographer … my question to you is … “If roles were reversed, how would you feel?  Would you want to constantly be hassled by cameras and questions?”